Dev’t Partners and Refugee Agency Officials Join Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Tree-Planting Drive

Addis Ababa, July 10, 2025 (FMC) — Representatives from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), World Food Programme (WFP), the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, and the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) joined hands today to plant seedlings in support of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative.

The event, held in Addis Ababa, brought together key development partners and staff of RRS to contribute to the national reforestation effort while highlighting the environmental responsibilities that come with refugee hosting.

UNHCR Assistant Representative for Protection in Ethiopia, David Karp, said it was his second opportunity to take part in Ethiopia’s Green Legacy campaign.

“It’s a fantastic and rewarding experience,” he noted, adding that the act of planting symbolizes unity and responds directly to the pledge made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum to plant trees in refugee-hosting areas.

Karp also underscored the environmental impact of refugee settlements, emphasizing the importance of reforestation efforts.

He revealed that UNHCR has allocated funding to support tree planting across refugee camps throughout the country and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with the Government of Ethiopia to mitigate environmental degradation linked to displacement.

World Food Programme Deputy Country Director Kevin Hodgson echoed this sentiment, saying his participation signified WFP’s continued partnership with RRS and support for the Green Legacy Initiative.

“The Green Legacy is a hands-on, impactful initiative,” Hodgson said. “It offers a natural solution to climate challenges, and WFP is proud to be part of it.”

He reiterated WFP’s commitment to backing similar initiatives in the future.

Also present at the event, Andrew Ellis, Deputy Regional Refugee Coordinator for Population, Refugees, and Migration at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, praised Ethiopia’s growing shift toward renewable energy and environmental sustainability.

“Planting trees benefits not just Ethiopia, but Africa as a whole,” Ellis said. “More vegetation helps counter the effects of fossil fuels and supports broader climate resilience.”

Refugees and Returnees Service Deputy Director-General Mulualem Desta highlighted RRS’s ongoing contributions to the Green Legacy Initiative, particularly within the country’s 26 refugee camps.

He emphasized that the campaign plays a crucial role in mitigating the environmental footprint of refugee-hosting areas.

“At the Second Global Refugee Forum in 2023, Ethiopia pledged to plant 100 million seedlings in refugee-hosting areas by 2027,” Mulualem said. “We’re working closely with development partners, UN agencies, diplomatic missions, and civil society to fulfill that promise.”

Mulualem also announced that RRS aims to plant five million seedlings during the current rainy season, with strong backing from its partners.